lexzilla

A few of the lovely people I've met since starting this journal are feeling pretty crappy today. So, in empathy, here are some J2 illness and injury fic recs.

J2 illness and injury fic recs

'C'hange or "How the Guitar Hero Gets His Bitch" by tru_faith_lost(cancer)Written for spn_holidays*NOT a deathfic* Jensen gets cancer and Jared takes care of him. The language really flows in this fic and the fluctuating emotions are so perfectly pitched - angst, joy, hope, and frustration. We get to see Jared go through all these whilst being all protective over Jensen and then, in return, he gets the best kind of happy ending he could hope for in that situation. “The change, when it comes, isn’t unexpected. Every great song has a change of key, a bridge that’s more memorable than the verse and more powerful than the chorus. Jared and Jensen’s song shouldn’t be any different, but it changes key just when they’ve finally got all the harmonies down and the balance just right.”

Cooler by lemmealone (fainting / stomach upset) Brilliantly insane story where Jensen has fear of flesh eating bugs. I don’t think a description can do it justice, so here’s an extract, ““So apparently,” Jared said mildly over his shoulder, “when the Boogieman goes to bed at night? He checks his closet for Dean Winchester.” Jensen closed his eyes. “This is going to be a thing, isn’t it.” One of Jared’s huge paws landed on his shoulder blade with an audible ‘thwap’, and abruptly he had two options. One, he could manfully stifle his grunt of pain, or two, he could overplay the whole thing; ham it up so Jared would never believe the blow had actually hurt.”

Heart Shaped Sushi by benitle (broken bone)Written for spn_vdayA really great, sweet and tender story. This shows us a moment in their relationship when Jensen gets to take care of Jared. "Jared definitely likes this, this intimate moment between them. And, if he was completely honest, he’s really happy that Jensen planned something even though they’d agreed they wouldn’t go there. Now, that he’s in Jensen’s living room, being fed delicious food, being kissed ever so sweetly, it’s perfect. It’s everything Jared ever wanted."

I Stole Away and Cried by dorkdance (death)*Deathfic* I can’t normally read this kind of story, but it was just so wonderfully written that I made an exception.

If This Ever Brings You Down, I’ll Be Around by 1shotjunkie (flu) Amusing and adorable story where Jared is ill and Jensen fails at making soup. This is so cute. “Jared’s eyes are now large brown saucers on his face. “My arms are sore, Jen.” Well, hell, Jensen knows where this is going. He sighs, but doesn’t protest, as he fills the spoon and tries to hold it steady as Jared opens his mouth wide. The back of his mind, the evil cynical part, is telling him to shove the scalding spoon down Jared’s throat, but damn does he look helpless and it is nice to be needed.”

In A Mirror Distorted & Indistinct by felisblanco (bulimia)This emotionally gripping story about a scarred and hurt Jensen is candid and heartbreaking. But thankfully there’s some light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of Jared Padalecki, who forces him to get some help.

No More Running by agt_spooky (cut)Jared pulls away from Jensen after they start something and this leads to Jensen being injured during a stunt because both boys are pissed. This is the perfect match of angst and sweetness and throw in some hot boy sexing and you get one great story.

Not Moving Mountains by audrarose (mono) Gorgeous slow-build fic where Jared can’t not look after a sick Jensen. There’s such a warm and genuine feeling to this story that it makes the pay-off, of the boys realising their feelings, that much sweeter.Pain Management by affectingly(broken bone)Jensen will do anything to ease Jared’s pain. And, yay, that includes the sexing.Ruins 'Versebyandsparkles(brain damage)You’ll really need to harden yourself to get through this one. The Jensen in this story is so naïve and so sweet and watching him struggle to understand human complexities, and Jared, is just heartbreaking. I’m so glad this isn’t real. “While the other kids could say their times tables (almost faster than they could talk) and write the entire alphabet in cursive lettering, Jensen could never remember the product of five times twelve and his handwriting was barely legible. The other kids said, "You’re a retard." His mother said, “You are not retarded, Jensen.” She put her hands on either side of his face, pressed a kiss to his forehead, and said, “You’re different.” Jensen, he didn’t know who to believe.”

Seriousbyjasmasson(asthma)Written forspn_holidaysJensen is wrong when he thinks Jared handles everything so much better than he does and Jared proves this by having an asthma attack when Jensen threatens to put an end to their relationship. This is an immensely cool fic.

Sick ‘Versebywriteatmidnight(fever / stomach upset)Okay. So Jensen is only sick in the first couple of chapters and the rest of he story involves their budding relationship whilst Jensen deals with sexual harassment and child abuse, but this story is so wonderful that I really wanted to rec it and it kind of seemed to fit in here. It’s another one of those ‘I’m sure most of you have already read it…’ deals, but just on the off chance you haven’t…

Sticks and Stonesbyestrella30(broken bones)Yummy story full of schmoopy goodness. Jared is hurt in a car crash and Jensen moves into his place in order to look after him. Being on top of each other 24/7 isn’t easy especially when both of them are busy trying to hide their true love forever feelings from each other. This is just so enjoyable.“superhero” by jezzabe (synaesthesia) This is a sort fic but so beautifully realised. A follow-along journey of Jensen’s crossing senses up until he meets Jared. “Three year old Jensen was a superhero. His Daddy used to turn on the radio, and Jensen would dance to the saxophone, ducking and weaving through the writhing mass of neon-purple snakes that were hovering in the air. Josh couldn’t see them, and so told Jensen he was a freak and Mommy had adopted him.”

The Death of Jensen Acklesbygilascave(anaphylaxis)Jared and Jensen are casual lovers, until something happens to make them rethink that. This is such a wonderful fic. Ignore the title, there’s no death here. Instead you get the funny and the cute and the scary and the schmoopy. “"It doesn't say! It just says 'fruit extract,' and for all I know that means kiwi." Jared glared at him, jaw jutting out and hand holding the bottle high above his head. Jensen folded his arms across his chest and thought that he might have put on pants first, if he'd known he was going to have to deal with Jared...being Jared, first thing this morning. Arguing in his underwear never made him feel like he had the upper hand, even when Jared was being a total moron.”

The Sickest Sick Person Who Ever Sickedbyvivaesprit(flu)An ‘awwww Jared’ inducing fic that’s really charming and quirky. ““I want my mommy,” Jared whines softly into his hands, and the saddest part is that he actually means it. But even sadder than that is that there are tears stinging at his eyes like he’s some kind of overgrown girl. Sick people get pathetic really, really fast and Jared is about four times as pathetic as the sickest sick person that ever sicked.”

This Splintered Mast bymarishna (broken arm)Written forslashfestIts not so much a fic about one of the boys being injured, it’s more like the injury is a catalyst to the events that unfold. Jensen injures his shoulder and Jared wants to look after him, but things aren’t so good between the boys as Jensen remembers how Jared hurt him.

Toothache by embroiderama (toothache) An example of hurt/comfort at its finest. Jensen ignores some dental problems until he gets really sick. Luckily Jared is there to take care of him. “The pillow felt hot and sticky against Jensen's face, and he reached underneath his head to flip it over again, bunching it up to better support his neck as did. Letting the cool seep in through his skin, Jensen closed his eyes and tried to get back to sleep. His heartbeat throbbed in his gums, and the day and a half left until his appointment seemed far too long.”

Touched By Darkness byagt_spooky(blindness)This is a great story. Jensen gets badly injured on set and Jared takes care of him. In the midst of all that, their relationship changes and deepens and becomes something else. The plot is absorbing, the characters well rounded and the whole thing just comes together so well. Are you getting that I like this?When the Pretty Gets Sick (Jared Gets Going) bymijmeraar(flu)Possibly one of the funniest (and let’s face it, most honest) illness fics I’ve ever read. Jensen is ill and Jared really doesn’t want to help because...icky! ““Dude, I can see disease in the air. It’s like, locusts, waiting to pounce on me. Sssh, listen, listen. I can hear them.” Jared cups a hand around his ear. The only thing heard is Jensen, struggling to breathe through his mouth; a long, heavy rattle, like those black things in Harry Potter that Jared wanted to dress up as last Halloween. Which Jensen wouldn’t let him do, so Jared owes him nothing.”

You Must Remember This byestrella30(amnesia)Awesome Jared loses his memory story that’s full of funny and memorable dialogue. For example “"And we do what? We're on TV?" Jared looked as excited as a little kid. The whole thing was so fucked up and wrong, but still, when he smiled like that Jen almost forgot what was going on. It was Jared's smile, easy and bright. Jen had seen it every day for months. "Are we any good?" Jared asked and Jen laughed sharply.” and “Jared whipped a hanger from the closet, an ugly brown and white flowered shirt hanging from it. "I wear this shit?" Jen laughed out loud at the look on Jared's face. "No, man, I'm serious here," Jared insisted. "Everything in here is pink. Or ugly. Or pink and ugly. Jesus Christ."."